Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 27, Number 10, 1 October 2010 — Groundbreaking held for first marae in Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Groundbreaking held for first marae in Hawaiʻi

By Lisa Asato KaWai Ola Adream more than three decades in the making is a step closer to becoming a reality as a group of Hawaiians and Maoris joined recently for a groundbreaking ceremony for a marae in Ko'olaupoko in Windward O'ahu. "Today we culminate 30 years of planning as we turn the earth," lua master Dr. Mitchell Eli

said at the groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 5 at Kualoa Ranch. Following an earlier ceremony at dawn under heavy rain, the groundbreaking took plaee under clear blue morning skies, with prayers and words offered by Eli, Aaron Mahi and others. Dennis Hansen, a Maori chief and kaumatua, or elder, also addressed the group in both his native language and in English. The ceremony was peppered with mele and oli by the Maori group and the pa lua Pa Ku'i a Holo. Permits are pending, but Eli said he anticipates construction starting next year, with a new facility complete a year later. The idea for a marae in Hawai'i stemmed from 1980, when a Hawaiian contingent visited Aotearoa, New Zealand and eame back with two ideas: Pūnana Leo for Hawaiian language revitalization and a marae, whieh would serve as a community center and plaee of healing, said Eli, who was part of the group that included respected Hawaiian leaders Kenneth Brown and George Kanahele. The multimillion-dollar complex will include a Hale Mo'i for sleeping overnight, Hale 'Ai for eating and

Hale Kūpuna for elders. The site, whieh will be managed by Pa Ku'i a Holo, will offer a plaee to host indigenous groups from around the world, cultural exchange, healing, respite, celebration, oratory and cultural practice. "We will include the American too because they need to learn the culture as well," said Eli. In December, members of Pa Ku'i a Holo visited New Zealand and the Maori King gave his blessing for the group's plans to establish a marae in Hawai'i, Eli said. "First time out of Aotearoa that he encouraged (a marae) to be built," Eli said. Hansen, of New Zealand, said the Maori hold court in the fale nui, a part of the marae, where young people ean get their punishment waived or lessened if they learn about their culture, genealogy and home. Maori also offer schools from elementary to university on the marae, said Hansen, who received the Queen's Service Medal fromEngland's Queen Elizabeth II in August for his contributions to the community. The land for the marae is owned by the Morgans, descendants of Dr. Gerrit Judd, a staunch royalist and confidant of King Kamehameha III. Eli said Kualoa is the "most sacred site on O'ahu" because the chiefs of old are buried there in the cliffs. John Morgan, Judd's great-great-great grandson, who is part Maori, summed up the day, saying: "This is not a marae for Kualoa Ranch; this is a marae for Hawai'i and for Aotearoa. It's a reconnection of our people." ■

John Morgan, president of Kualoa Ranch, architect Keith Cockett, 'Ōlohe Eli Mitchell and Dennis Hansen turn soil at the site of the planned marae at Kualoa Ranch. Morgan and Cockett are members of the pa lua led by Mitchell. - Photo: LisaAsato